Kensington Mayor Discusses Projects at Monthly Coffee

Only one person turned out Saturday to the mayor's monthly coffee at Kensington Town Hall. The meeting took place two days before the town council election, which has four candidates vying for two seats.

The coffee, which started at 9:30 a.m., was billed as an opportunity to speak with Mayor Peter C. Fosselman about issues, projects and plans in the town. Before the lone participant walked through the doors of the town council building, Fosselman talked with Kensington Patch about his new appointment as deputy secretary of state and his plans for the mayoral office.

Fosselman, who is in the midst of his third term as mayor of Kensington, said he’s nearly accomplished all he set out to when he first entered the office in June 2006. Most notably, Fosselman said he wanted to revitalize the town to spur economic growth. To that end, the town’s master plan is nearly complete, with an estimated approval date this fall.

Fosselman said one of the difficulties of the mayoral position has been getting residents to understand the reality of the town’s need for economic growth, which he hopes the master plan will clearly outline.

Beyond finishing out this third term, which is up next year, Fosselman said he doesn’t have concrete plans to run for office again. “I’m not interested in becoming mayor-for-life,” he said.

Fosselman also discussed his recent as deputy secretary of state for charities and legal services division. After ten years as a partner in Rodgers Consulting, Fosselman resigned after the appointment by Gov. Martin O’Malley.

About 20 minutes into the appointed time, Silver Spring resident Barbara Yoffee came in to take advantage of the mayor’s monthly coffee talk. While Yoffee isn’t a resident of the Town of Kensington, she said she lives in the sector and comes to the meetings when there are “issues I’m interested in, such as the (for Young Children).”

The two chatted like old friends, discussing plans for a new . Although the school will be built outside the town’s boundary, Fosselman said the council plans to have the school plans as a discussion item on the agenda in July or August.  Fosselman said he wants to request that someone from Kensington sit on the Feasibility Study review committee.

Fosselman and Yoffee also discussed the status of a new   being planned on Metropolitan Avenue, as well as the possible redevelopment of Antique Village and the renovation of Warner Mansion—a project that will become home to the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission's Park Planning and Stewardship division.